Iran: Student activist detained without charge: Milad Asadi

15 March 2010, Index number: MDE 13/032/2010

Student leader Milad Asadi has been detained without charge in Evin Prison, Tehran, since 1 December 2009. Amnesty International believes he is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. He is at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.

UA: 62/10 Index: MDE 13/032/2010 Iran Date: 15 March 2010

URGENT ACTION

STUDENT ACTIVIST DETAINED WITHOUT CHARGE

Student leader Milad Asadi has been detained without charge in Evin Prison, Tehran, since 1

December 2009. Amnesty International believes he is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for

the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.He is at

risk of torture or other ill-treatment.

23-year-old Milad Asadi is a student of electrical engineering at Khajeh Nasir University and is also a leading

member of the Office for the Consolidation of Unity (OCU), a national student body which has been prominent in

demanding political reform and an end to human rights violations in recent years. He was arrested shortly before

mass demonstrations against the government took place on university campuses on 7 December, which is Students’

Day in Iran, marking the anniversary of the killing of three students in 1953 by police.

He told his family during a visit in mid-January that he had been held for 46 days in solitary confinement in a tiny

cell only two metres wide and two metres long. According to the website Reporters and Human Rights Activists in

Iran, Milad Asadi told his family during a prison visit in February that he would be tried on 3 March, but this is not

known to have taken place.

At least three other prominent members of the OCU – Mehdi Arabshahi, Behareh Hedayat and Amin Nazari are also

detained. Another – Morteza Samyari - has been released on bail after being sentenced to six years in prison. He was

convicted of vaguely worded offences apparently related to his peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression

and association, following an unfair trial.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Persian, Arabic, English, French or your own language:

Calling on the Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Milad Asadi and any other students

held solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and association;

Urging them to ensure that Milad Asadi is protected from torture and other ill-treatment, and has access to a

lawyer of his choice, his family and any medical treatment he may require;

Reminding the Iranian authorities that freedom of expression, association and assembly are guaranteed under the

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Iran is a state party.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 26 APRIL 2010 TO:

Leader of the Islamic Republic

Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei

The Office of the Supreme Leader

Islamic Republic Street – End of

Shahid Keshvar Doust Street, Tehran,

Islamic Republic of Iran

Email: info_leader@leader.ir

via website:

http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?

p=letter (English)

Salutation: Your Excellency

Head of the Provincial Judiciary in

Tehran

Ali Reza Avaei

Karimkhan Zand Avenue

Sana’i Avenue, Corner of Alley 17, No.

152

Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

Email: avaei@Dadgostary-tehran.ir

Salutation: Dear Mr Avaei

And copies to:

Secretary General, High Council for

Human Rights

Mohammad Javad Larijani

Howzeh Riassat-e Ghoveh Ghazaiyeh

Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of

Serah-e Jomhuri

Tehran 1316814737

Islamic Republic of Iran

Fax: +98 21 3390 4986

Email:bia.judi@yahoo.com (In subject

line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)

Salutation: Dear Mr Larijan

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above

date.

Date: 15 March2010

URGENT ACTION

STUDENT ACTIVIST DETAINED WITHOUT CHARGE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Milad Asadi sits on the Central Committee of the OCU. At least three other members of the Central Committee of the OCU are

currently in detention. They are Mehdi Arabshahi, who is the Secretary of the OCU, arrested on 27 December 2009 - the

religious festival of Ashoura - when mass demonstrations against the government took place; Behareh Hedayat, who is also the

Chair of the Women’s Committee of the OCU, arrested on 31 December 2009, and Amin Nazari,also chair of the OCU Human

Rights Committee, arrested on 27 February 2010. Another member, Morteza Samyari, was sentenced to six years in prison on

18 February for “propaganda against the system” and “gathering and colluding with the intent of harming state security”, but

was subsequently released on bail pending an appeal against his conviction and sentence.

Amnesty International has previously taken action on behalf of Mehdi Arabshahi and Bahareh Hedayat during an earlierdetention